Rajya Sabha MP and actor-politician Kamal Haasan on Friday, 9 October 2026, hit back at American billionaire Elon Musk over Musk's pointed question about why his satellite internet company Starlink still has no operating licence in India, asserting that national security safeguards are 'non-negotiable' and that no billionaire — 'Indian or American' — should dictate a nation's policy.

What Musk Said

On Thursday, Musk posted on social media platform X — which he owns — writing: 'Starlink is licensed in over 165 countries and has spent five years complying with every single law and requirement of the Government of India, so why still no license?' The post reignited the long-running debate over spectrum allocation, security vetting, and market access for foreign satellite broadband operators seeking entry into India.

Haasan's Rebuttal: Security, Affordability and Sovereignty

Kamal Haasan, founder of the Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) party in Tamil Nadu, responded directly on the same platform. While acknowledging that satellite internet could serve as 'the most practical and affordable last-mile solution for those in remote regions,' he cautioned that high subscription fees and equipment costs risk placing it beyond the reach of ordinary Indian households. 'Connectivity must bridge the digital divide, not create a new one,' he wrote.

Haasan was categorical that India's strategic assets are not up for negotiation. 'India knows our networks and spectrum are strategic infrastructure, not merely commercial assets. India's national security safeguards are non-negotiable,' he asserted.

The Protectionism Parallel

Haasan drew a sharp parallel between US and Indian trade practices, arguing that nations routinely protect their own interests. He pointed to America's 100% tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles as evidence that the West 'practises protectionism at home' while preaching free markets abroad. He further noted that both India and the United States have restricted Huawei over security concerns — suggesting consistency, not hypocrisy, in India's approach. 'One cannot demand a level playing field from others only when it suits its own agenda,' he added.

BharatNet and India's Broadband Record

Haasan also invoked BharatNet, the government programme launched in 2011 to provide high-speed broadband to all 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats via optical fibre — billed as the world's largest rural broadband initiative. At the same time, he did not shy away from accountability, citing the Comptroller and Auditor General's (CAG) 2026 audit report, which found the programme struggling to meet its original objectives. According to the audit, only 33.2% of service-ready Gram Panchayats were operational despite a spend of ₹39,888 crore. He balanced this critique by acknowledging that India's telecom regulations have made internet data among the world's most affordable.

India Is 'Not a Colony'

Haasan concluded his post with a pointed declaration of digital sovereignty: 'We welcome the world, but we, the Indian people, will decide our own future — not Western vested interests, their double standards or any billionaire — Indian or American.' This comes amid ongoing regulatory scrutiny of foreign satellite broadband entrants, with Starlink and rivals awaiting spectrum and security clearances from Indian authorities. The episode underscores the increasingly geopolitical dimension of the global satellite internet race.